A Mother’s Faith Matthew 15:21-28 University Church of Christ

Matthew 15:21-25 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 

A Desperate Woman Jesus withdraws to the far north Approached by a Canaanite woman Traditional enemies of Israel She is crying, desperate “Son of David” Recognizes His great standing Approaches as a mother At wit’s end Will Jesus help her demon possessed daughter?

Silence From God Have you cried to God in desperation? Have you only received silence in response? Why would Jesus do this? What do we do when God is silent when we are desperate? Do we walk away, frustrated or angered?

Send Her Away Disciples want her sent away She is a nuisance Implication: “heal her so she’ll leave” Jesus is “sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Limited earthly ministry She stands outside mission parameters

Another Entreaty Does she leave, hopeless for her daughter? Instead of leaving, she kneels before Jesus “Lord, help me.” Cry of desperation She knows He can do what she needs

Matthew 15:26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 

Disturbing Reply Few NT narratives more disturbing Challenges our understanding of Jesus Why does He seem reluctant? Why does Jesus seemingly insult her? Why won’t He show her mercy like we expect? Likely a proverbial expression stating obvious priority

Matthew 15:27-28 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”  Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. 

How to Respond? How will she respond? Justified in angrily storming off? Content with crumbs: just heal my daughter!

Great Faith! Jesus impressed He proclaims great faith Reminds us of centurion’s faith (Mat 7:10) Only ones whose faith praised by Jesus The daughter healed “instantly”

Focused Faith Canaanite mother knew who Jesus was Son of David Only He could do what she needed Her goal—healing for her daughter—most important thing Pride not an issue Kneels Accepts she has no right to sit at Master’s table Initially recognized Him as Israel’s king (“Son of David”)

Matthew 15:10-12 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”  Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

Offended Pharisees offended by Jesus Yet Canaanite woman is not She attains her goal No pride, no anger Overcomes obstacles Social status: Gentile woman Disciples hostility Jesus’ perceived indifference Jesus’ perceived insult

Matthew 11:4-6 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Achieving the Goal What do we learn from this mother? Only God has what we need Who we are does not limit us Initial silence cannot stop us Others’ opposition cannot stop us We can only rely on God’s grace We have no rightful claim to the table

Luke 13:29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.